Old Dominion sputters but pulls out a win

Old Dominion 28, Campbell 17

NORFOLK — On Saturday, Old Dominion's offense was like that old jalopy in the driveway that always seems to get you to work each day.

It started right away, stalled and then needed a jump to get going in a 28-17 win over Campbell at S.B. Ballard Stadium.

The Monarchs scored on their first possession, then punted on four of their next five, fumbling the ball away on the other, to allow Campbell back in the game.

Former Phoebus star Reid Evans opened the scoring on a 42-yard pass from Thomas DeMarco less than three minutes into the game.

Evans caught the ball down the left sideline, then cut back between two defenders to work his way into the end zone for his first career touchdown as a Monarch.

The Camels, running an option offense, scored twice in the second quarter to lead 10-7 at the half. They controlled the momentum due largely to 137 rushing yards on 27 plays and 18 minutes and 24 seconds of possession time.

"They really tested our technique because we weren't focused on the option," said Old Dominion defensive lineman Andrew Turner, a former Kellam player who finished with seven tackles.

"We made a lot of little adjustments in the second half, but that offense really tests your football knowledge. I'm proud we were able to come back."

The charge the Monarchs needed in the second half came off the foot of punter Jonathan Plisco, who booted a school-record 76 yard punt to pin Campbell on its own 1-yard line.

After a four-and-out by the Camels, Old Dominion (5-2) took the lead on a 14-yard scoring pass from DeMarco to former Landstown star Nick Mayers.

After not touching the ball in the first half, Mayers caught three passes for 65 yards and two touchdowns and carried the ball five times for 37 yards in the second.

His second score came a little more than a minute into the fourth quarter on a 41-yard strike from DeMarco.

"The linebackers had bumped to the other side, so I knew the ball was going to come to me," said Mayers. "I just wanted to get in the end zone and help get DeMarco's stats up."

After forcing another Campbell punt, the Monarchs took a big chunk out of the game clock with a 16-play, 94-yard drive that lasted seven minutes and 53 seconds and ended with a one-yard scoring plunge by Desmond Williams.

Williams got the start because coach Bobby Wilder held running back Jamar Parham out of the game for "conduct unbecoming of a Monarch."

Williams made the most of his chance, rolling up a school-record 145 rushing yards on 29 carries.

"He's starting to find holes, and he has a lot of skill," said DeMarco, who finished 8-of-14 for 145 yards and carried the ball 12 times for 38 more. "The best part was that we saw that when we've got to run out the clock, we're capable of doing so."

Old Dominion's defense did its part to turn things around, holding Campbell (1-5) to just 59 rushing yards in the second half.

"We saw what they were doing in the first quarter, but our players just aren't quite ready for us to break out the grease board and do that on the sideline," Wilder said. "We had Devon Simmons blitzing off the corner in the second half, but the biggest thing is we just started tackling."

Kicker Drew Hareza got back on track by converting 4-of-4 extra-point attempts. The redshirt freshman had his streak of converting 24 consecutive extra-point attempts broken when one was blocked last week.